Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-07-23

u Meeting ut Manassas Adopts ResO.
buttons Severely COndeinning Him.

The opposition to Rev. F. VI. Todd In the town
and vicinity OF Manassas, Va. took definite shape
yesterday in meeting OF citizens. The call for
Lhe meeting was circulated and signed by those of
The citizens who believed that Mr.. Todds guilt In
The matter of the recent charges against him had
been sufficiently proven to render him unworthy
TO longer occupy the pulpit of the Presbyterian
church there. Mr.. J. c. Weems was chosen chair
man and DR.. W. A. Newman secretary. In taking
the chair Mr.. WeemS declared that the feel
Ing actuating the meeting was one OF
>reasonable Indignation" He said the COM
munity felt outraged at the continued
occupancy OF pulpit by q man who had violated
one OF Gods express commandments Public
opinion, he declared. considered the charges as
fully sustained by ample testimony. Mr.. WeenS
maintained that the verdict OF the preSbytery was
really an admission OF Mr.. ToddS guilt, and he
added upon the authority of one OF the leading
members of the presbytery, he said. that had
the latter been restricted to verdict OF guilty, OF
not guilty, It would have been guilty. The
speaker criticised the presbytery for its apparent
Willingness 10 tolerate Mr.. Todd, a man 80
morally nlthy, a breaker OF the divine law ana
OF the civil law In conclusion, he said: 'IhlS
ulcer upon the body OF Manassas society must be
removed before IL can be cleanSed and made
whole as before
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
A committee was then appointed to prepare
resolutions expressive Of the OF the meeting
They reported series of resolutions declaring
that Rev Francis VI. Todd had gained an unenvi-
Quence of his recent thai for unchaStfty; that,
notwithstanding his virtual conviction by the
presbytery, he still retains his pulpit, land teaches
Things sacred with polluted hands that an over
whelming majority OF the community, amounting
aiinost to unanimity, is fully convinced that MI
Todd Is guilty only OF the crime for which he
was last arraigned, but also OF drunkenness anu
lasciyiouS conduct. IL was declared that Mr..
Todd occupied the pulpit In Manassas In aoso-
lutte defiance OF enlightened public sentiment, to
the injury OF the church and manifest
hinderance to the cause OF religion; that
rtp'yi
and disgust, and is indignant that he should
assume priestly robes whilst his conduct Is re-
proach and q stencil In the sight OF man and God !;
that the community demands that IL shall forever
stand abSUlved from all responsibility for Mr..
'iii hi9 ~ ~ Gnu .iC "a ,I1
people shall bear the blame. All resorts TO
violence are sternly deprecated, but the authori-
ties OF the Presbyterian Church are implOred to
take such action ~ will remove the Objectionable
minister. In support of the sentiment of the
lutfOnS the general character" OF Mr.. Todd was
referred TO: also his expulsion, charged. from
the Good TenplarS lodge for drunkenness, his re-
cent trial by the presbytery. and certain a1idavlts
OF reputable citizens The resolutions were
adopted
Mi. Edgar Nichol declared that he was morally
certain OF Mr.. Todds guilt He said II he enter
tained a single doubt on that point he would not
b. there To arraign Mr.. Todd, but despite his in
clination TO deal leniently with the minister. he
could not reconcile his conduct with innocence.
EVIDENCE NOT RECEIVED BY THE PKEsBYTERY
Mr.. NChOl read four affdavitS which he said
were sent TO the preSbytery evidence in the re-
cent trial OF Mr.. Todd, but not used by that body.
Levi Hixson swore that somewhere in the months
OF June, July or August, 1873, Mr.. Todd passed
him on a country road; that Todd was In 4 buggy,
and he had with him woman (nOt his wife) whom
he Rugged and kissed. Edmund Penn made oath
that during the summer OF 1856 he saw MIR. Todd
and woman in a buggy; that they got out. tied
the horse, and went into the thick bushes where
they remained half an hour. Henry L. Nuddiman
SWOre that somewhere on the road from Manassas
10 DumfrleS, he saw Mr.. Todd drive along; there
was woman In the buggy with him, and Mr..
Todd Rugged and kissed her. They drove into the
woods ana remained there some time. The wit
ness could not give even the year In which he saw
this Newton woodward also made affidavit that
some time In 1887 he saw Mr.. Todd careSsng a
woman as he drove along country road In Il
buggy
These affi1avitS are very vague and Indefinite.
The several atlantis Were very positive in each
case that the woman alleged TO have been seen
was not Mr. TOdd's wife; yet they could not tell
who she was.
After adopting the resolutions the meeting ad-
1ourned- Mr.. Todd declares that his church SuS-
JainS him, and that he means To stay and tight it
out.